Eddie Howe: 'Quiet mouse' becomes manager of the decade

By Nabil Hassan BBC Sport

Eddie Howe has only been a manager for six years but has already achieved enough to be named as the first Football League manager of the decade.

Howe received the accolade at the 10th annual Football League awards ceremony  as recognition for his achievements with Bournemouth.

In two spells, the former Cherries player has guided the club from Football League survival after a 17-point deduction in 2008-09 to within two games of reaching the top flight for the first time.

The 37-year-old is on course to become one of only a small selection of managers to have guided a team through three divisions into English football's top flight, but how has he done it?

Here BBC Sport speaks to three men who know Howe better than most.

'He was quiet as a mouse'

John Williams was in charge of Bournemouth's centre of excellence, first meeting Howe as a shy 13-year-old. The former Cherries defender has been a summariser for BBC Radio Solent for over 10 years, watching Howe learn his craft as a manager.

"He was quiet as a mouse. If you can imagine your first day at school, Eddie was like that for quite a while," Williams told BBC Sport. "In fact it nearly hindered him. There was an awful lot to come out in terms of personality and character. Tony Pulis [Bournemouth manager at the time] wasn't that sure whether he could come through. We had to get Tony to come down and watch him on a number of occasions before he took him on.

Howe spent more than a decade playing for Bournemouth, also in two different spells

"Once he got in the changing room, he found his feet. He was one of the boys. When you get in the first team, it's another cup of tea. I remember him being man of the match in his first game.

"He is a fantastic, polite lad, who has become determined, super hard and that's the reason why he is hopefully going to be picking up the Championship in two weeks' time.

"He's learned things from managers he's played under. He's had some crackers like Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth.

"This is the best Bournemouth side I have seen going back to 1986. I speak to fans of 50 and 60 years and they say they have never seen such dynamic football.

"The attention to detail is the one. He is always looking for that different edge, that little angle. How your team, plays, defends - he is always trying to pick up on something that is going to make a difference."

How does he compare with other Football League managerial records?
Manager	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals for	Goals against	Win %
Simon Grayson	440	192	134	114	652	511	43.64
Ian Holloway	367	127	111	129	478	480	34.6
Neil Warnock	322	132	96	94	417	352	40.99
Mick McCarthy	309	150	76	83	436	340	48.54
Eddie Howe	295	142	65	88	471	339	48.14

'I'm so proud to call him a friend and to have played under him'

Fletcher scored 121 goals in 728 appearances in a Cherries career spanning 18 seasons

Steve Fletcher was Howe's team-mate at Bournemouth and played under him in the final years of his career. Fletcher is Bournemouth's record league appearance holder and now works in their player recruitment and scouting department.

"He's so dedicated, he is meticulous," Fletcher told BBC Sport. "He works so hard and has a passion for this football club.

The secret diary of Eddie Howe

"I keep a diary because I like to look back and reflect and put a new slant on things," Howe told BBC Radio Solent. "One of the most difficult aspects of the job is to keep things fresh, we hate to repeat things. "The big challenge is to come up with new drills that are actually going to work and there is no better feeling when you come up with an idea you like. A lot of our best stuff comes from us, the homemade drills. When you see a problem and identify a drill to solve it that is very satisfying."

"He eats, breathes and sleeps football. It is his club. He watched as a boy from the terraces and he'd do anything to see Bournemouth get to where he wants them to be. He'll stop at nothing.

"I played for 24 years under some fantastic managers and he stands out. He is a million miles ahead of everybody else. He is just different. Every little thing you wouldn't think matters, matters to Eddie. I believe he will go on to do bigger and better things - hopefully with Bournemouth but he's definitely a unbelievable manager in the making.

"He is so meticulous on the training ground, his attention to detail is phenomenal and his man management skills are brilliant.

"He was my room-mate for a while - looking back I always realised he had an old head on young shoulders and he thought about things in more detail. He was a very deep and private man.

Eddie Howe's journey so far
2014-15	Bournemouth are second in the Championship and two wins from sealing promotion to the Premier League.
2013-14	Bournemouth's first season in the Championship sees them finish 10th and six points off the play-offs
2012-13	Howe returns to the Cherries and guides them to promotion to the Championship.
2011-12	Burnley end the season in 13th position in the Championship
2010-11	Eddie Howe leaves Bournemouth to join Burnley as the club finish eighth.
2009-10	The Cherries finish second in League Two and earn promotion.
2008-09	Bournemouth survive relegation and finish 21st in League Two, despite a 17-point deduction.

"Nobody could foresee the success he's had in such a short space of time. It's phenomenal what he's achieved. The award just proves how highly thought of he is. To have played with him for 11 years and then under him for five years and to have been his friend for 22 years, I'm so proud."

'Eddie Howe has come along and blown me out the water'

Harry Redknapp led Bournemouth to promotion to the second tier of English football in 1986-87

Harry Redknapp has always been considered Bournemouth's greatest ever manager - until this season. Redknapp signed Howe as a player at Portsmouth.

"I produced teams that play good football," Redknapp told BBC Sport.

"I had 10 years at Bournemouth, I was the most successful manager in their 100-year history. Eddie Howe has come along and blown me out the water. He is fantastic - I love watching them play.

"If I wasn't involved next year, I'd buy a couple of season tickets and watch them every week."

Source : bbc[dot]com

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Aston Villa Ladies: Lifelong rivalry behind Katie Wilkinson's rise

By Andrew Aloia BBC Sport

Katie Wilkinson was four when she binned ballet classes to follow her twin brother Ben to football training and continue their sibling rivalry on a new stage.

It is a rivalry that has helped Katie build a burgeoning career with Aston Villa Ladies and earn international recognition with England's Under-19 team.

While exact scores of fiercely-contested garden encounters have been forgotten, the really important numbers are recited like title wins.

Ben was born 30 minutes earlier, but Katie quickly and proudly declares she weighed 13oz heavier than her 6lb brother.

"Through and through I've always been better than my brother - always," Wilkinson told BBC Sport.

"He was scrawny and came straight out, while I ate all the food and came out beefy.

"It has always been that if I did one thing, he would want to do it better and vice versa."

Katie Wilkinson is in her second spell with Aston Villa Ladies, having spent time with top-flight neighbours Birmingham City

After finally convincing their mother Lorraine and father John that Tuesday dance classes with older sister Olivia were not for her, Katie joined Ben on the football pitch.

"I wanted to go with my twin brother," said Katie. "I used to do ballet and tap on Tuesday nights with my big sister for four hours and I hated it.

"My dad wanted to keep me and Ben together in the same team, which I appreciate, because we worked really well together and got the best out of each other."

For five years, they strived to outshine one another on the pitch.

While Katie was being introduced to the game with Aston Villa, Ben was attracting the attention of Derby County and signed for the Rams as a nine-year-old.

And yet, their rivalry continued.

"We played football together all the time in the garden, which my mum wasn't a massive fan of," Ben said.

"From day one, it has always been a competition between us. I'll be honest, she has beaten me loads of times and I'm not afraid to admit that.

Among Ben Wilkinson's team-mates at Derby County's junior development team was Will Hughes, who went on to represent the Rams' first-team

"That competitive edge helped us progress and get better and better. I didn't think anything of it being Katie, my sister, because it was always good to have someone of a similar standard to me that I could play football with.

"I never had to go to a friend's house when I wanted to play, I just had to knock on my sister's door."

While his own career never reached the heights that he had dreamed of, Ben is proud of what his sister has achieved.

"I'd like to say I've played some part in getting her to where she is today," added Ben, who continues to play non-league football with Boldmere.

"I'm still enjoying football, but not playing at the level that I wish I was. I have played at a good level and with some very good players who have gone on to make it.

"It is such a small percentage of player that makes it and at least one of us has made it and represented England as well, which I'm very proud of.

Katie and Ben Wilkinson grew up as Aston Villa fans and both work part-time together as junior coaches at the club

"To go to a game on a Sunday and see 'Wilkinson' on the back of her shirt is something I never thought I'd see."

As Ben has been watching his sister rise through Aston Villa's ranks over the past 12 years, he has also seen the women's game transform.

He said: "It has come on in leaps and bounds the past four or five years, with more money involved and the game attracting a lot more spectators."

Nowhere is the evolution of the women's game clearer than at Villa, with the side founded in 1973 as Solihull FC going on to establish a relationship with Villa in 1989, before being officially integrated into the club in 2007.

Last year, they were one of 10 founding members of a new second-tier competition - Women's Super League Two.

Katie's rise has reflected that of the club's, and she hopes to play a key role in winning promotion from WSL 2 to the top flight.

"To be in WSL 1 would be class," she said. "The difference from when I first started, when I was eight, to now is absolutely massive.

"When I was in the under-eights, I was wearing a second-hand kit that had claret down one side and blue down the other, the most minging kit you have ever seen in your life.

"From minging kit, we have gone to something we are proud to wear."

Katie Wilkinson's Aston Villa were beaten in the FA Women's Cup quarter-finals earlier this month by Notts County

Source : bbc[dot]com

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Man City 2-0 West Ham: What has gone wrong with the Hammers?

MOTD2 pundit Jason Roberts explains why West Ham's performance in their 2-0 defeat by Manchester City was evidence of the issues facing Hammers boss Sam Allardyce, whose team were fourth at Christmas but have won only two out of 16 Premier League games since then.

Sam Allardyce's position as West Ham manager has been in doubt for a while now, and I think we saw on Sunday how the growing uncertainty over his future is affecting his team.

When you are a player, you look to your manager for leadership, especially when you are playing a brand of football like Allardyce's, which demands discipline and commitment to the cause.

Allardyce's contract as West Ham manager is up in the summer

I know from playing under him at Blackburn that those are the key factors in a successful 'Big Sam' side, and I did not see any of them in the Hammers' display in their defeat at Manchester City on Sunday.

Instead, I saw a team who did not look like they were buying into the philosophy of hard work and organisation that I know Allardyce usually installs in his players.

'West Ham did not even do the basics'

I was at Upton Park in October when West Ham beat City 2-1, and it was a fantastic performance.

At that stage of the season, they were producing a brand of football that even I was surprised about.

The hallmarks of an Allardyce team were still there - they went long when they had to, they were a threat at set-pieces, they closed people down and they were committed.

But their players also seemed to have far more freedom than usual when they received the ball. It was refreshing, and great to watch.

Injuries have held West Ham back, but there are bigger issues to blame for the way their season has gone downhill in the last few months.

Nine of the team who started against City on Sunday also started that game but they were unrecognisable with their performance at Etihad Stadium.

Far from playing with any freedom, they were not even doing the basics that you would expect from an Allardyce side.

They were not getting the ball forward in the first place, let alone winning any knockdowns.

Time and time again they were caught in possession in their own half and they were not doing enough to get it back. That meant City had lots of space when they attacked, and it turned into a extremely comfortable afternoon for them.

'We were hauled in at 6am for training'

At Blackburn, Allardyce was always very pragmatic - he would always target certain games for wins, usually at home.

He would not have said that City away was a place where you could go out and go for the three points. His approach for games like that was to make clear to the players that we started with a point, and the aim was to work hard to try to leave with one too.

So Sunday's result in itself would not have been an issue for him. It is the manner of the defeat that will cause him most concern. His side did not put in any effort.

With performances like that, I can see why West Ham have won just one of their last 11 games.

West Ham could not recover after going behind to James Collins' own goal at Etihad Stadium

They had a similar run last season but it is not a sequence of results you would associate with Allardyce as a manager, and I certainly did not experience a run like that under him at Blackburn.

One reason for that was that his man-management skills with players were very good - when things were going well, he made things easy for us. When we played badly, then he would make things really bad.

I remember times when we put in performances like that and we were hauled in at 6am the next day for training.

At the moment, though, it looks like Allardyce is having a problem motivating his players. For me, that is a by-product of the uncertainty over his future.

It is no secret that his contract is up at the end of the season, that there is a constant stream of stories about who is going to replace him, and there has been a lack of support for him from above.

That all helps the players - or at least some of them - to not give the commitment he needs for his teams to be successful.

'The players don't need to impress Allardyce'

It is not just the players. For most people watching the situation, myself included, it looks as if Allardyce will not be in charge next season.

But the way the situation has been handled has been messy and I think it has undermined West Ham's season.

When a team of players know the manager might not be in charge for the longer term, then it is harder to motivate the group. They don't need to impress you.

Newcastle manager John Carver has got the job until the end of the season - his side have lost their last six games

When he was Tottenham manager, Tim Sherwood came out with that quote about being a supply teacher, and he is exactly right. Ask Newcastle boss John Carver too.

That is the problem Allardyce has to deal with at the moment - it will be very difficult for him to turn things round before the end of the season, unless he gets a new contract.

If that happens, the players will recognise they are playing for their futures under this manager.

At the moment, though, it is easy for them to think that if a new man does come in, it offers them a clean slate.

'Hammers fans should be careful what they wish for'

The way West Ham's season has gone has hardly helped Allardyce either, but I don't think that is all his fault.

The Hammers were fourth at Christmas, but if the Premier League had started on Boxing Day they would be 15th, three points off the bottom.

They still have a chance of a top-10 finish which, for West Ham, would be an excellent achievement but on the back of their current form it feels like they have had a bad season when they really haven't.

West Ham fans held up an anti-Allardyce banner during their defeat at West Brom in April 2014

I know Allardyce has always had a frosty relationship with the Hammers fans, but I would give a message of caution to the supporters putting pressure on him now.

They have the right to do that of course, but they should be careful what they wish for because they will have to live with the consequences.

West Ham are a big club who are about to move to the Olympic Stadium, and I am sure there will be a lot of people interested in the job if Allardyce does leave.

But they have to make sure they get the right man to ensure the club continues in the right direction.

Under Sam, regardless of whether you like his brand of football, the club did that. I would stick with him.

Jason Roberts was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

Source : bbc[dot]com

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Sunderland 1-0 Newcastle: 'More to Defoe display than wonder goal'

MOTD2 pundit Danny Murphy expands on his TV analysis of the part his former Tottenham team-mate Jermain Defoe played in Sunderland's vital derby win over Newcastle.

Jermain Defoe's brilliant winner against Newcastle has made the headlines but it was the less spectacular parts of his performance that stood out for me.

When I realised his starting position was on the right wing in a 4-3-3 formation, I was surprised to say the least.

I know Jermain well from training and playing with and against him, and he does not particularly like playing in those wide areas - he certainly did not enjoy it back in the day.

That is understandable because he is a goalscorer and he lives off the goals he gets. He does not normally like being in areas of the pitch where he cannot affect the game in a positive way.

But obviously he was asked to play a different role by Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat because of their circumstances and he did a brilliant job for the team.

'I have never seen him work as hard before'

I have never seen Defoe work as hard as he did to contribute defensively on Sunday - he tracked back on the left too and at one point he was making sliding tackles near his own corner flag, which was a first.

He is 32 now and he will not want to be doing that permanently. But knowing him like I do, if he is asked to do any kind of job for his team to help them stay in the Premier League then he will always give it his all.

Jermain Defoe's touches against Newcastle

I do not think playing him there gets the best out of him, but it worked for Sunderland on Sunday.

Ultimately, Defoe only had one shot at goal in his 80 minutes on the pitch, but it was a world-class finish to win Sunderland the game and three vital points.

That is what they signed him for, and you could see from his celebration how much it meant to him.

Defoe said the importance of his goal made it an emotional moment for him

'Defoe is a very special talent'

I have played in midfield behind Defoe and he is a very special talent in that he does not solely rely on through-balls.

If you get the ball to his feet, he has got the capability around the box to beat people himself and shoot from range with real power.

Jermain Defoe's all-time record
Stats: Opta
Games: 391	Goals: 127
Starts: 264	Goals from outside the box: 21
Assists: 29	Minutes per goal: 197.09

Defoe has pace and thrives on being put through too of course, but one of the reasons he has scored as many goals as he has done in his career is that there are so many different elements to his game.

Yes he will get in the six-yard box to score you a tap-in but he can create goals for himself and, as Newcastle found out, score from distance as well.

Jermain Defoe was around 22 yards out when he lashed the ball beyond Newcastle keeper Tim Krul

Before that goal, he had not scored for six games which will have been hurting him because he is not used to it.

But I know that it will not have knocked his confidence because he is the sort of player that never loses faith in himself, and for good reason.

That bit of class he produced against Newcastle was the kind of moment of brilliance I have come to expect from him after playing with and against him down the years.

'Sunderland have enough about them to stay up'

Defoe's appetite was typical of the rest of the Sunderland team.

What Dick Advocaat's side lack in quality, they make up for in physicality and endeavour which is a massive positive for them.

They have got some powerful players and they look fit, which is an often overlooked factor at this stage of the season.

Average position of Sunderland players vs Newcastle

Against Newcastle, both of their full-backs - Billy Jones and Patrick van Aanholt - did brilliantly, flying up the wings.

They also have a few clever players, like Jordi Gomez and Seb Larsson, who have been in this position at the bottom of the table before and will be used to the pressure involved when you are fighting relegation.

From what I saw of them in this game, they have got enough about them to beat the drop.

But that is mainly because of the quality Defoe gives them in the final third. He could be the difference between them staying up, or not.

Danny Murphy was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

Source : bbc[dot]com

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Garth Crooks's team of the week: Rooney, Gomis, Hazard, Sanchez

By Garth Crooks Football Analyst

There were some potentially pivotal results in the Premier League this weekend with leaders Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all firming up their positions in the top four.

And down at the bottom there were also some big wins that have dramatically tightened up the fight to avoid relegation.

Arsenal's 4-1 victory over Liverpool was the stand-out result in terms of the race for a Champions League place with Manchester United's 3-1 win against Aston Villa adding to Liverpool's difficulties in their fading pursuit of a top-four finish.

Leicester's 2-1 win over West Ham and QPR's 4-1 success at West Bromwich Albion have given them fresh hope in their efforts to beat the drop, while Sunderland's 1-0 nervy success over Newcastle gave the Black Cats welcome breathing space.

Here are the players who I thought excelled in my team of the week:

GOALKEEPER - Asmir Begovic (Stoke)

Begovic made nine saves in all against Chelsea. Only Hull stopper Boaz Myhill has made more in a game this season (13 v Man City in March)

I cannot name my goalkeeper for my TOTW without giving a mention to Tim Howard's two superb first-half saves for Everton against Southampton. However I've had to go for Stoke's Asmir Begovic, who from the first Chelsea attack in Stoke's 2-1 defeat knew it was going to be a long evening for the Potters. Begovic had to be very alert to stop the likes of Eden Hazard and Willian from adding even more goals to the two Chelsea managed. The double save from Juan Cuadrado had Jose Mourinho beating the ground with frustration.

DEFENDER - Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)

Hector Bellerin has scored more Premier League goals (two) than Mario Balotelli (one) this season

What a goal from the teenager. Arsenal have had some great left-backs in their time but I can't remember Kenny Sansom or Ashley Cole producing such cultured finishing during their time at Highbury. Hector Bellerin's superb finish was the start of Liverpool's torturous afternoon, as they were beaten 4-1. He may have given away the penalty for a foul on Raheem Sterling but the youngster appears very comfortable in this star-spangled Arsenal side and quite capable of filling some very big shoes.

DEFENDER - John O'Shea (Sunderland)

John O'Shea has faced Newcastle 19 times in the Premier League and never been on the losing side (W14 D5)

This performance by Sunderland against Newcastle at the Stadium of Light was almost unrecognisable from the one that saw the Black Cats lose so badly at home to Aston Villa. At the heart of both games was John O'Shea who was at his commanding best against Newcastle. If Dick Advocaat can inspire such clear emotion in Jermain Defoe, who scored the winner against Newcastle, and such desire in his captain, then Sunderland look odds-on to retain their Premier League status.

DEFENDER - Phil Jagielka (Everton)

Phil Jagielka netted his third league goal of the season, just one shy of his best ever Premier League return (four in 2006-07)

Everton have had a difficult season, largely because of the impact of the Europa League. I also get the feeling that a belated return to form of three of their most important players, Tim Howard, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka, after an intense World Cup campaign has been crucial to their recent run of games. Jagielka's performance for England versus Italy in midweek was impressive, and his contribution for Everton was just as important in a 1-0 win over Southampton as part of a defence that has returned to keeping clean sheets, and Jagielka is getting his share of goals again.

MIDFIELD - Lee Cattermole (Sunderland)

Cattermole went through the entire match against Newcastle without conceding a foul, something he has only done in two other Premier League games this season

This was one of the most keenly contested North East derbies I've seen for some time. I could have selected any member of the Sunderland back five in my TOTW such was their commitment in their battle to secure all the points. However, one of the stand-out players in the heart of Sunderland's midfield was Lee Cattermole. It was his continuing interventions that provided the Wearsiders with the impetus and the bite to keep Newcastle at bay. A battling performance if ever I saw one.

MIDFIELD - Joey Barton (QPR)

Barton scored his first Premier League goal since April 2014

This was a game QPR had to win and they needed a cool-headed Joey Barton back in the heart of their team to do it. The tackle on Saido Berahino, followed by an even better challenge on Darren Fletcher, which led to the corner from which Charlie Austin scored QPR's second goal, told you all you needed to know about where the captain's intentions were. Barton was then felled by Youssouf Mulumbu in a way that might have seen other players leave the field, only to recover and put the game beyond the Baggies with a well-taken finish himself. If QPR can keep Barton out of trouble and focused on the task in hand, he can lead QPR to safety.

MIDFIELD - Ander Herrera (Manchester United)

Herrera's brace was his first in league football for either Manchester United or Athletic Bilbao

This is another player who is slowly finding his feet at Old Trafford. It's not been an easy transition for the Spaniard but the two goals he scored against an outclassed Aston Villa will go a long way to giving him the confidence he needs to continue pushing United for that crucial top-four place.

MIDFIELD - Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Wayne Rooney has scored more Premier League goals against Aston Villa (13) than versus any other opponent

What a goal by the Manchester United captain against Aston Villa and a testimony to his desire and commitment to his club and country. Let us not forget that this has been a period where Wayne Rooney has led England, having played a starring role against Lithuania and Italy, prior to returning home to continue the theme for Manchester United. No sob stories about niggles or fatigue, just a genuine Englishman proud to perform his duty. This lad is an exceptional professional footballer and a throwback to the days when footballers played with knocks and tiredness was a symptom of the job, not treated like some ailment.

FORWARD - Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Eden Hazard completed eight dribbles against Stoke, a best for a player this weekend

There was a time when Jose Mourinho was talking about Eden Hazard as the best young player in Europe. Well, based on Hazard's performance against Stoke, the enigmatic Chelsea boss may be right. The Belgian was practically unplayable during a momentous display of individual brilliance. It was only a moment of sheer impertinence by Stoke's Charlie Adam that took the entire attention away from the star of the show and that was undoubtedly Hazard.

FORWARD - Bafetimbi Gomis (Swansea)

Gomis has scored more goals (three) in his last two Premier League appearances than he did in his first 25 (two)

Here is a player who is taking complete advantage of the departure of Wilfried Bony to Manchester City and filling the void admirably. He took both his goals in the 3-1 win over Hull extremely well but I have to say without the appalling decision by referee Andre Marriner to send the Tigers' David Meyler off for what appeared to be a run-of-the-mill tackle, the outcome for Bafetimbi Gomis and for Swansea might have been very different. But we can't blame Gomis for that.

FORWARD - Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)

Sanchez has had a hand in 31 goals in all competitions for Arsenal this season (20 goals, 11 assists); nine more than anyone else

The Chilean just blew Liverpool away. Once again Alexis Sanchez produced some blistering football in a 90-minute display by Arsenal that must have left Tottenham fans very concerned about a possible League and cup double by their north London rivals. Can you imagine? It's enough to make you want to cry!

Source : bbc[dot]com

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Premier League and Football League: Ups and downs

BBC Sport outlines the promotion and relegation issues - and the race for Europe - in England and Scotland.

PREMIER LEAGUE

The top three teams qualify for the Champions League group stage, with the fourth-placed team entering the preceding play-off round.

English clubs have three places in the Europa League - for the FA Cup winners, Capital One Cup winners and fifth-placed Premier League side.

Chelsea were the first English team to guarantee a European place for 2015-16

Chelsea were the first English side to book their place in Europe by winning the League Cup, but in the (extremely likely) event that they qualify for the Champions League, their Europa League place will go to the sixth-placed Premier League team.

Should Arsenal or Liverpool win the FA Cup and finish in the top four, their Europa League place will be allocated to the next highest non-qualified club in the Premier League.

The top three countries in Uefa's Respect Fair Play league get an extra Europa League place, which is given to the highest-placed team in the top flight's Fair Play table that has not yet qualified for Europe.

In Uefa's interim rankings on 31 December 2014, England were third in the Fair Play table. 

The bottom three teams will be relegated to the Championship.

CHAMPIONSHIP

The champions and runners-up will be promoted to the Premier League, and the next four teams will contest the play-offs.

The bottom three teams will be relegated to League One. Blackpool were the first Football League team to be relegated this season, after fellow strugglers Rotherham beat Brighton 1-0 on Easter Monday.

LEAGUE ONE

The top two teams will be promoted to the Championship, and the next four teams will contest the play-offs. Leaders Bristol City and second-placed Preston are both guaranteed play-off places at least.

At the bottom, four teams will be relegated to League Two. Yeovil, 13 points from safety with five games remaining, are on the brink of relegation and will go down next weekend if they lose to relegation rivals Notts County - or if other results go against them.

LEAGUE TWO

The top three teams will be promoted to League One, while teams finishing from fourth to seventh will contest the play-offs. Burton and Shrewsbury are assured of at least a play-off place, with Wycombe close to joining them.

The bottom two teams will be relegated to the Conference Premier.

CONFERENCE PREMIER

The champions will be promoted to League Two, with teams finishing from second to fifth contesting the play-offs for the second promotion place. Barnet, Bristol Rovers and Grimsby are all guaranteed a play-off place at least.

The bottom four teams will be relegated, and replaced by the champions and play-off winners of the Conference North and South divisions.

The Conference's bottom club AFC Telford United became the first team in England's top five divisions to be relegated on 3 April after they could only draw 1-1 with Kidderminster. Dartford will join them if they do not beat Macclesfield on Saturday - or other results go against them.

Nuneaton - who play Dartford - could also go down if they do not win and rival teams pick up points. Adding to Nuneaton's plight, they have been docked three points for fielding an ineligible player. The table won't be changed until the appeal process is exhausted, but if upheld the deduction will significantly increase the likelihood of relegation.

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP

The Scottish Premiership will split in half after all teams have played 33 games (on 22 April), with the top six and the bottom six playing the other teams in their 'half' for a fourth and final time.

The champions will enter the Champions League at the second qualifying round stage.

The teams finishing second and third qualify for the Europa League along with the Scottish Cup winners.

The Cup winners enter the competition in the second qualifying round, the second and third-placed teams in the first qualifying round.

The top three countries in Uefa's Respect Fair Play league get an extra Europa League place, which is given to the highest-placed team in the top flight's Fair Play table that has not yet qualified for Europe.

In Uefa's interim rankings on 31 December 2014, Scotland were 12th in the Fair Play table. 

The bottom side will be relegated to the Scottish Championship, while the 11th-placed side will face the winners of the Championship play-offs over two legs, with the losers condemned to a place in the second tier next season.

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Hearts were the first team in Scotland or England's top four leagues to clinch promotion

Hearts clinched the title and an immediate return to the Premiership on 22 March after rivals Hibs lost 2-0 to Rangers.

The third and fourth-placed teams will meet in the first round of the play-offs, with the winners playing the division's second-placed team. Whoever emerges victorious from that two-legged encounter will face the second bottom side in the Premiership - again on a home and away basis - with a spot in the top flight the prize.

The bottom club will be relegated to League One, while the ninth-placed team will enter a play-off with three League One sides.

SCOTTISH LEAGUE ONE

The champions will be promoted to the Championship. The next three teams will enter a play-off with the ninth-placed Championship side.

The bottom team will be relegated to League Two, with the ninth-placed team entering a play-off. Bottom side Stirling Albion will be relegated next Saturday if they fail to beat Brechin, or if Ayr and Stenhousemuir both win.

SCOTTISH LEAGUE TWO

The champions will be promoted to League One, while teams finishing second, third and fourth will enter a play-off with the ninth-placed League One team.

The team finishing bottom will enter a play-off against the winner of a play-off between Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Lowland League title winners Edinburgh City for the final place in next season's League Two.

Source : bbc[dot]com

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